Quentin Jammer can still play football and, in fact, would be an excellent (re)addition to a Chargers secondary that sure seems like it is too young and too new.

So this is not about Jammer’s career being over.

But his reaction to Wednesday’s news that Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher had retired was telling – about Jammer, about Urlacher and about football players as a species.

“I thought it was a little premature,” Jammer said. “I thought he could still play. But he did it on his terms, and that’s the most important thing.”

It is also extremely rare.

It’s easy for the rest of us to say Urlacher’s play had declined and it was time for him to go. It’s an entirely different matter for Urlacher to have decided that himself.

“After spending a lot of time this spring thinking about my NFL future, I have made the decision to retire,” Urlacher said in a statement. “Although I could continue playing, I’m not sure I would bring a level of performance or passion that’s up to my standards.”

You must consider how unique this is.

Generally, football players play until they can’t.

Those of us who operate in the NFL’s orbit have long known the game is a tough habit for these men to break. And in the wake of Junior Seau’s suicide a little more than a year ago, former players were seemingly more willing to talk about the challenge of adapting to life after football.

“We are unique, we are special for all of our lives -- just up until the day we’re not,” said former NFL player Aaron Taylor. “Then we're the average, everyday Joes, and we go through this period of insecurity.”

Taylor, a graduate of Notre Dame, public speaker and television commentator, battled alcoholism and depression after leaving the game.

“I would be willing to take a chance that eight out of 10 guys – if not 10 out of 10 -- go through depression,” said NFL Hall of Famer Mike Haynes.

Haynes, Taylor and former Charger Mike Goff were part of a panel discussion on U-T TV last month in which they spoke with candor about their own struggles and how players can prepare for the transition.

“There is a camaraderie you had for nine months out of the year,” Goff said. “… All of a sudden, you wake up and you’re 35 years old and you say, ‘I’m not playing any more. What do I do now? … You kind of get ambushed by the fact that, holy cow, this is not going to happen anymore.”

Urlacher will wake up Saturday and be 35 years old.

And that brings us to another issue Urlacher’s retirement drives home.

In today’s youth-trending NFL, 35 is the new 40.

As admirable – and prudent – as Urlacher’s decision is, it almost certainly would not have happened if this a few years back and several teams were willing to overpay for veterans that ultimately proved to not be worth the money.